By: Mary Dunne
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Relegation Final
Durrow: 3-17
Bracknagh: 3-15
With everything on the line and twelve points down at half time, Durrow came back from the brink of dropping to senior B for 2027, with what could only be described as a sensational second half performance in a cracking game on Friday night last in Geashill.
The outcome of this game certainly looked like it was heading for a huge Bracknagh win. Playing a brilliant opening half, Bracknagh gave themselves a huge platform for the second half, but this game was turned completely on it head with a totally different Durrow team coming out in the second half.
For Bracknagh this is a tough one to take. They had it in their grasp and even in the death of the game, they had a chance of goal to turn the tide. Two point down with three minutes on the injury time clock, Mikey Cunningham was blocked twice on the line and in the end it was Durrow who held on.
There is no doubt that Bracknagh will regroup, but this one will be hard for them to phantom for a long time to come. They lorded the opening half and with Peter and Mikey Cunningham leading the charge they had Durrow living off scraps and in reality, they should have had enough to close it out based on the gap at the break.
On one hand you couldn’t possibly envisage how it would unfold in the end and it was totally the case of a game of two halves.
When Durrow needed leaders they had them in bucketful’s. Down the spine of their team they were brilliant and with Ciaran Burke, Jack Fogarty, Ross Ravenhill, Gavin Hand, Dan Bourke and Brian Duignan in particular gaining the upper hand, Bracknagh had no answer for them as it all began to unravel around them.
Brian Duignan was second to none and like he had already done in a lot of their games this year, his ability to take on the defence was excellent and with some impeccable scoring he led the charge of getting Durrow back into this game.
It was a cracking game of football and thoroughly enjoyable to watch. It epitomised everything that is so good currently about football.
Both sides left everything they had on the line. They ran themselves into the ground and with some amazing scoring on show, it was such a pity that the outcome of the game was the loss of senior status for 2027.
The game started well and by the 2nd minute it was Durrow who led 0-2 to 0-1 thanks to scores from Michael McDermott and Mark Troy, either side a score for Bracknagh from Conor Melia.
But it was at that point that Bracknagh started to take over. They were winning a lot of the key match ups and with Peter Cunningham leading the charge it wasn’t long until they were ahead on the board.
Mikey Cunningham drew the side’s level by the fourth minute, but the deadlock only lasted sixty seconds when Peter Cunningham attacked.
Taking the ball in the middle of the field, he weaved through the Durrow defence like a hot knife through butter to hit the ball to the back of the net. Bracknagh 1-2 to 0-2 clear five minutes in.
Charlie Keogh added to the lead before Peter Cunningham was on the mark with a free, 1-4 to 0-2 after nine minutes.
It was real champagne football from Bracknagh and they had more to come. This time it was the Cunningham brothers who combined. Peter set it up and with a nice ball to Mikey he headed for goal. Dermot Colbert seemed to have it under control, but the ball spilled to the net and Bracknagh were in an extremely commanding position, 2-5 to 0-2 clear after fifteen minutes.
Ciaran Burke landed a much needed score for Durrow moments later, but Mikey Cunningham was hot on heels with another score, before a brace from Brian Duignan and Steven Doran brought the scores to 2-6 to 0-5 twenty three minutes in.
Eoghan Geoghegan landed the game’s opening two pointer on the twenty fifth minute but there was even more to come from a relentless Bracknagh when Mikey Cunningham fired home a cracking goal to bring thee scores to 3-8 to 0-5 by the 24th minute.
Brian Duignan and Mark Troy did hot over two late scores for the half, but with a two pointer free Peter Cunningham cancelled those out and Bracknagh were a staggering twelve points clear at the interval, 3-10 to 0-7.
While it looked like the task was insurmountable for Durrow, they came with real intent on the resumption and by the 37th minute, they had 1-2 on the board without Bracknagh getting a hand on the ball and you could suddenly sense a shift in the tide.
They had a dream restart when Mark Troy hit the net within sixty seconds and with follow up scores from Brian Duignan and Dan Bourke, the gap was back to seven 3-10 to 1-9.
Now with the bit between their teeth, everything they touched turned to gold and with Brian Duignan hitting over a superbly struck two pointer this game was in a melting pot.
Mikey Cunningham quelled them somewhat, but with a fine score from Sam Bourke, Durrow were pushing on and with thirty nine played we were back to a five point game, 3-11 to 1-12.
Durrow were the ones who were relentless now and with an initial shot from Jack Fogarty rebounding off the upright, Kevin McDermott made no mistake in raising the green flag and we suddenly had a two point game, 3-11 to 2-12.
Peter Cunningham hit over a much needed free for Bracknagh on the 47th minute, but three minutes later the sides were remarkably level with Brian Duignan rifling the ball to the net, 3-12 each and ten minutes of normal time to play.
Fionn Dempsey hit over a brilliant score from Bracknagh to steady the ship, but with Bracknagh punished for a breach Mark Troy duly pointed the free and the sides were level again.
Brian Duignan nudged Durrow ahead on the 57th minute, but Peter Cunningham levelled within seconds and one had to wonder would be heading for a replay.
It was not time for Bracknagh to batten down the hatches, but a second breach saw Mark Troy hit Durrow in front again as the sixtieth minute ticked by.
Brian Duignan added two more scores, before Alex Broderick scored for Bracknagh and with 62 on the clock there was two between the sides.
Bracknagh did have the chance of pulling it from the fire but Mickey Cunningham was blocked on the double as he went for the games winning goal.
It was Durrow who celebrated in the as Bracknagh fell to their knees. The final scores in an intriguing and brilliant game reading 3-17 to 3-15.
The Scorers
Durrow: Brian Duignan 1-8 (0-2 TP), Mark Troy 1-4 (0-3 Frees), Kevin McDermott 1-0, Steven Doran 0-1 (Free), Michael McDermott 0-1, Ciaran Burke 0-1, Dan Bourke 0-1, Sam Bourke 0-1,
Bracknagh: Mikey Cunningham 2-4, Peter Cunningham 1-5 (0-2 TPF, 0-2 Frees), Eoghan Geoghegan 0-2 (TP), Conor Melia 0-1, Charlie Keogh 0-1, Fionn Dempsey 0-1, Alex Broderick 0-1.
The Teams
Durrow: Dermot Colbert; Sean Hughes, Oisin Cusack, Daire Boland; Jack O’Brien (Capt.), Ciaran Burke, Gavin Hand; Jack Fogarty, Ross Ravenhill; Dan Bourke, Cian Kinnarney, Steven Doran; Mark Troy, Brian Duignan, Michael McDermott.
Subs: Sam Bourke for Oisin Cusack (Half Time), Kevin McDermott for Michael McDermott (Half Time), Arron Maher for Steven Doran (62 mins).
Bracknagh: Keith Keogh; Charlie Keogh, Adam Kelly, David Costello; Fionn Dempsey, Anthony Cunningham, Sean Dempsey; Colm Cunningham, Jason Dempsey (Capt.), Eoghan Geoghegan, Peter Cunningham, Mark Dunne; Sean Wyer, Mikey Cunningham, Conor Melia.
Sub: Alex Broderick for Sean Wyer (46 mins).
Referee: Adam Kinahan (Clodiagh Gaels).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 12th Sep
